"To compress all of his spiritual power into such a small blade, thereby attaining transcendent speed..."
Yoruichi let out a long breath, a relieved smile appearing on her face. "This kid actually did it."
"To master Bankai... in just a day and a half." Shinobu Kocho, who had stayed up all night training with them, was equally shocked.
This was an unprecedented miracle in the history of the Soul Society.
Shinobu rubbed her slightly drowsy eyes and smiled. "Since you've achieved your goal, I should head back to the Fourth Division. After all..."
*Hum—*
Before she could finish speaking, a spine-chilling tremor suddenly seeped down from the rock layers above.
"What is this?!"
As the wielder of the strongest ice-snow type Zanpakuto, Toshiro was the most sensitive to changes in temperature.
He could feel that the temperature in the originally cold and damp underground space was now rising drastically.
The moisture in the air evaporated instantly, and every breath of air he took felt like swallowing a ball of fire.
"The Head Captain?!" Toshiro's expression changed drastically. "He released Ryujin Jakka on Sokyoku Hill?! Why?!"
"The execution hasn't even started yet... or was it moved up again?!" Yoruichi's expression also turned extremely grim.
"The situation up there must be critical!" Ichigo tightened his grip on Tensa Zangetsu, his eyes boiling with fighting spirit. "Mr. Yoruichi! Toshiro! Let's go!"
"Don't call me Toshiro! It's Captain Hitsugaya!"
Toshiro retorted instinctively, then drew Hyorinmaru as well. "But you're right. If the Head Captain is really getting serious, the entire Seireitei will be in danger!"
Without further delay, the group hurriedly rushed out of the underground space.
*Boom—!!!*
A massive explosion echoed from outside.
"What's that sound now?!" Ichigo asked in astonishment, looking up at the streak of a shooting star.
Shinobu and Toshiro exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
"Artillery fire?!" Yoruichi suddenly remembered something. "Could it be..."
"That crazy girl?"
Fourth Division barracks, Document Room.
This should have been the most peaceful and tranquil place in the entire Seireitei right now, but at this moment, it was filled with a tense, explosive atmosphere.
"Step aside, Hinaki."
Nichika Ubuyashiki bit her lip, trying to force her way past the white-haired woman in front of her.
But Hinaki Ubuyashiki spread her arms wide, stubbornly blocking the doorway.
"Where are you going now, Nichika?"
Her eyes were currently filled with anxiety and disbelief. "You didn't come back all night yesterday! Do you know how worried I was?"
"It's so chaotic outside right now, and Lady Shinobu repeatedly warned us to stay in the barracks before she left... You just got back, and now where are you going?!"
Hinaki's gaze fell upon Nichika's somewhat messy sleeve, which was stained with some strange green liquid. "And..."
"What exactly did you do yesterday? Why do you have this... scent of a Hollow on you?"
Nichika's body stiffened slightly.
It was something she had accidentally gotten on herself while assisting Aizen in detonating Nemuri Hachigo at the Department of Research and Development.
"That's none of your business," Nichika said, covering her sleeve in an attempt to hide her momentary panic. "I have things I must do... Please step aside, sister."
"I won't!" Hinaki shook her head stubbornly. "Not unless you tell me the truth!"
She suddenly recalled the warnings her father and Lady Shinobu had given her in the past.
"Did... did Aizen make you do something bad?"
"Don't you dare speak about Mr. Aizen in that tone!" Nichika retorted loudly. "None of you understand! Mr. Aizen is the only clear-headed person in this world! He wants to save this rotting world! He wants to save us! I... I am assisting him!"
"Save the world?" Hinaki looked at her younger sister in disbelief, as if looking at a stranger. "Nichika, are you crazy? Lady Shinobu told us to stay away from him..."
"Lady Shinobu! Lady Shinobu! It's always Lady Shinobu!"
Nichika suddenly erupted.
She swung her hand fiercely, a strong burst of Spiritual Pressure sweeping all the documents off the desk and onto the floor.
"Sister, don't you find it annoying?! Ever since we were little, we've lived under our parents' arrangements! We couldn't even decide how we were going to die!"
"And now that we're here, we live under Lady Shinobu's wing!"
"We're not allowed to join a combat division! We're not allowed to leave the barracks! We're not allowed to talk to strangers! We must learn Kaido! We must be good girls!"
Nichika stepped closer to Hinaki, her eyes flashing with long-suppressed rebellion.
"We've already lived two lifetimes, sister! Are we supposed to live according to the will of others forever?!"
"I have things I want to do! I have a life I want to pursue! I want to see the true sky! Not be trapped here forever!!"
As Nichika spoke with agitation, tears streamed down Hinaki's face. "What... what is this? So you're going to abandon your family, and even hurt everyone for the sake of these things?"
"I haven't hurt anyone!" Nichika yelled, her voice trembling. "Mr. Aizen promised me that he would take good care of my family! Besides, we are on the side of justice!"
"Wake up, Nichika!" Hinaki shouted angrily through her tears. "That's just a lie! You've been deceived by him!"
"Shut up!!"
Nichika could no longer listen to any persuasion.
She abruptly drew her Zanpakuto. "What do you know! Mr. Aizen and I are protecting you!"
"Manifest・Bishamon!!"
Following the Shikai incantation, the Zanpakuto in Nichika's hand instantly transformed into a long blade radiating a purple-gold precious aura.
She activated Fukusekiten's ability, her figure blurring before instantly vanishing from her spot.
"Nichika!!"
Seeing this, Hinaki felt a deep ache in her heart, but she had no choice but to draw her own Zanpakuto.
"Unblending with heaven, unblending with man..."
"Stand alone・Hiten."
Light flowed through her hands, and in an instant, it transformed into a uniquely shaped weapon.
It was a slender double-ended sword with the hilt in the center, and sharp, narrow willow-leaf-like blades extending from both ends.
The upper blade was completely pure white, while the lower blade was as pitch-black as ink.
Facing her sister who had already concealed her presence, Hinaki did not hesitate in the slightest, fiercely swinging the double-ended sword in her hand toward the doorway.
"Solitary Barrier."
Two streams of black and white Spiritual Pressure surged from the ends of the blades, intertwining at the doorway to form a chaotic spiritual barrier.
That power was not a simple defense; it was more like an absolute rejection that completely isolated this place from the outside world.
*Clang—!!*
A crisp clash erupted in the air.
In a spot that had previously been empty, Nichika's figure was forcefully pushed out by this repulsive force.
The purple-gold Bishamon slashed viciously against the black and white barrier, stirring up violent ripples, but it could not advance a single inch.
"Hinaki!!" Nichika's figure appeared, her large eyes filled with shock and fury. "Are you trying to lock me up too?!"
"I am saving you!"
Hinaki flicked her wrist, and the double-ended sword spun rapidly in her palm.
With a soft *click*, Hiten split into two from the center of the hilt.
Holding a single-edged sword in each hand, she blocked Nichika's path with the pure white and pitch-black twin blades.
"If you walk out that door, there truly is no turning back!"
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
Nichika could no longer hear any reasoning at this point, swinging her sword to strike.
Inside the Document Room, Spiritual Pressure surged violently.
Files fluttered wildly through the air, and bookshelves shattered amidst the sword aura.